Beer, corn dogs, and roller coasters make for an A+ way to recharge your creative batteries. For my FUEL, I headed down to Disneyland to spend some time with an old friend. I was excited to have the chance to visit the park as an adult after visiting as a kid.
Over a bowl of clam chowder, looking at the closed off soon-to-be Pixar Pier (which is now open!), I got to thinking about how great Disneyland is at making change exciting, not scary! It’s a tough thing to do.
“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
– Walt Disney
Old Friends And New Adventures
Change isn’t always popular. Remember a few years back when Disney announced that the Tower of Terror was becoming a Guardians of the Galaxy ride? People were more than a little miffed. But the Guardians ride is pretty awesome.
It still has enough loveable familiar elements, like the exciting drops and the Yeti hiding in the shadows while you’re waiting in line. But the new ride throws in some kickin’ 80s music, and characters that will be more familiar to today’s kids to build the exciting new memories that will help THEM fall in love with the Disney experience.
Across the park, California Screamin’ has become the Incredicoaster. At first, it was a little heartbreaking to see the coaster I remember riding with my Grandpa as a kid closed down. But walking through the park’s display of their plans for the Pier got me excited to see my favorite childhood Pixar movies come to life and share those experiences with a new generation of friends and family.
Disney is growing to tell a better story to today’s families, and that commitment to excitement, storytelling, and fun is what keeps the magic alive!
I think this is an important lesson for businesses too. Are we doing the same things because that’s what we’ve always done? Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved or made more exciting.
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
– Walt Disney
Thanks, Tytanium, for giving me the chance to have an adventure and recharge my creative batteries!Want to work for a great company and do something awesome with your FUEL trip? You should apply! It’s super fun here.